Wood-splitting device



Nov. 9, 192a. 1,606,253 J, c. MCCOLGAN WOOD SPLITTING DEVICE I Filed April 14. l92 4 2 Sheets sheet 1 akiomwug Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

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YT srarss JOHN C. MCCQLG'AIT, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

WOOD-SPLITTING DEVICE.

Applicationfiled April 14, 1924. Serial No. 706,555.

The present invention relates to a wood splitting device and has for its principal object to provide a pneumatic operating mechanism for efficiently operating the same. V

Another-important object of the invention isto provide a device of this nature possessed of a comparatively simple and efficient construction, one which is reliable in operation, durable, strong, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device embodying my invention showing the same in its normal contracted position,

Figure 2 is a similar section showing the same almost fully extended,

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken on the lines 3-3, 4.l and 55 respectively of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the respective arrows.

Fi ure 6 is a detail view showing the structure of the wedging element itself,

Fig. 7 is a section online 7-7 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the wedging element indicatec generally at A comprises a wedge shaped bOC y 1 having an elongated tip 2, the body 1 and tip 2 both being provided with upwardly pitched teeth 1 on each side thereof so that the wedging element will be diiiicult of removal from wood after the same has been engaged and is being pushed therein.

The operating mechanism for this wedging element consists of an inner cylinder 5 and an outer cylinder 6 telescopically associated with each other. The inner cylinder 5 is extended slightly into the body 1 of the wedging element A and fixed thereto by means of a pin 7. The larger end of the body 1 is provided with a butler ring 8 against which the outer cylinder 6 is adapted to strike, the lower end of the cylinder 6 being enlar ed as at 9 so as to engage the inner cylinder, the remaining portion of the outer cylinder being spaced from the inner cylinder as is shown in both Figures 1 and 2. WVhen the cylinders are in a contracted position as shown in Figure 1 the cylinder 6 extends above the cylinder 5. The upper end of the cylinder 6 is closed by an apertured platelO through which extends the pipe 11 leading from some source of compressed air or the like. The inner end of this pipe 11 is provided'with a piston 12 having openings 28 and the cylinder 6 is adapted to slide thereon. A disk 13v is mounted within the cylinder 6 above the cylinder 5 and pins 14; project therefrom through the piston 12. This disk .13 is slidable on the brackets 16 which are attached to the piston 12 and also to the upper end of cylinder 5. These brackets 16 are grooved as is indicated to advantage at 16 in Figure 5 so that the air may pass through the grooves 16 and through the disk 13 as well as around its ends. A valve 17 is nounted in the upper end of the cylinder 6 for association with the closure the latter having apertures 10. mally held spaced from the closure 10 by springs 18 embedded in the closure and impinging against the valve. A U-shaped member 19 is attached to the valve 17 and the legs thereof extend movably through the piston 12 and the disk 13, the intermediate portion 20 of the U-shaped member being disposed within the cylinder 5 intermediate its ends when the cylinders 5 and 6 are contracted but this intermediate portion moves out of the cylinder 5 when the two cylinders are extended as will he noted by an inspec tion of Figures 1 and 2. A rod 23 is fined centrally to the disk 13 and depends into the cylinder 5 terminating in a piston movable Within cylinder 5 and normally resting on a pin 25 extending transversely of the cylinder 5 adjacent its bottom end. When the valve 26 of the line or pipe 13 is open th operator presses downwardly upon the cylinder 6 to hold the wedging elements against an object and the air flows into the two cylinders filling the spaces therein causing valve 17 to close against the closure 10. \Vhen the operator presses downwardly upon the cylinder 6 the springs 18 and 27 are compressed so that the pins li force the valve 17 in abutment with the closure 10 thereby closing its openings 10. The air will. flow through the pipe 11 fillin the two cylinders 5 and 6, it being noted that the air is free to pass through the piston 12 because of its opening 28 and through the disk 13 be This valve is norcause 0'35, the grooves 16 in the bracket 16. As the air is compressed within the cylinder 5 the piston 52% tends to move downwardly thereby holding the disk 13 in place. This causes the cylinders to move in relation to each other taking the position shown in Figure 2 at which time the intermediate portion 20 of the U-shaped member 19 has engaged the disk 13 so as to bring the same in abutment with the piston 12 and as the cylinders further expand it will be seen that this ti-shaped member will open the exhaust valve 17 thus relieving the pressure in the device and the weight 01" the cylinder 6 will cause the same to fall or move downwardly so as to strike against the wcdging element. As the outer cylinder strikes against the wedging element the disk 13 engages butler spring 2? on the cylinder 5 so that the pins 1% engage the exhaust valve and force the same closed and thus the operation will be repeated.

t is thought that the construction and operation of the invention should now be clearly understood without any more detail description thereof. It is desired, however, to point out that numerous changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. I

Having thus described what I claim as new is:

l, A device or" the class described including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder slidable thereover, an apertured closure on the upper end of the cylinder, a valve associated with the closure, an air pipe leading through the closure and terminating in a piston 'i hin the outer cylinder on which said outer cylinder is slidable, a disk within the outer cylinder below the piston, pins extending from the disk through-the piston, a 'Ll-shaped member depending from the valve through the piston and disk so as to hold the disk against the piston and open ny invention,

tie valve when the cylinders are extended,

said pins being adapted to force the valve to a closed position when the disk abuts the top of the inner cylinder when said cylinders are in a contracted position:

2. A device of the class described including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder slidable, thereover, an apertured closure on the upper end of the cylinder, a valve asso ciated with the closure, an air pipe leading through the closure and terminating in a piston Withinthe outer cylinder on which said outer cylinder is slidable, a disk within the outer cylinder below the piston, pins extcndin iromthe disk throu 'h the aiston a slidable thereover, an apertured closure on the upper end of the cylinder, a valve associated with the closure, an air pipe leading through the closure and terminating in a piston within the outer cylinder on which said outer cylinder is slidable, a disk within the outer cylinder below the piston, pins extending from the disk through the piston, a U-shaped member depending from the valve through the piston and disk so as to hold the disk against the piston and open the valve \VlBHlllG cylinders are extended, said pins ibeingadapted to force the valve to a closed position when the disk abutsthe top of the inner cylinder when said cylinders are in a contracted position, and buffer springs mounted on the end of the inner cylinders engaged with said disk strikes, a second piston in the inner cylinder, a rod connecting the second piston with the disk;

In testimony whereof I my signature.

JOHN C. MCCOLGAN. 

